ZOOM FLUME WATER PARK COMMERCIAL SERIES

Some years, the river level drops fairly early in the season, but you can extend the fun by switching to smaller boats. (Here’s our guide to predicting future river flows to help with your planning.) Scouting Zoom Flume rapid in Browns Canyon, Arkansas River, on June 1, 2014, when the flow was about 3,500 on the Nathrop gaugeĪt lower levels (for those of us with intermediate abilities), this is an outstanding run for kayakers, including inflatable kayaks. The highest I’ve run it is at about 3,500 cfs in a paddle raft: It was fast and fun but demanded focused attention throughout.

Rated as a Class III whitewater run by American Whitewater, Browns Canyon changes character fairly dramatically at different water levels. General nature and major rapids of Browns Canyon But adding an overnight stay on Browns elevates this already stellar whitewater experience to a solid 11. You can certainly run Browns Canyon as a day run-even as a half-day run, as the commercial outfitters do zillions of times each summer (when not stymied by pandemic restrictions). And the most popular stretch of the Arkansas-which has several legendary whitewater runs-is undoubtedly the Browns Canyon run, an 8-mile section (from Ruby Mountain Campground to Hecla Junction) of deluxe whitewater through a relatively remote canyon surrounded by the Collegiate Peaks just outside of Buena Vista, Colorado. The Arkansas River consistently tops the list of most popular commercially run rivers in the U.S., according to industry association American Outdoors.

General nature and major rapids of Browns Canyon.Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River is a solid Class III stretch, especially at higher levels Contents

Depending on the water level, this can be a pleasantly challenging experience or a tense exercise in smashing big waves and executing critical moves to dodge boulders and pour-overs.

ZOOM FLUME WATER PARK COMMERCIAL SERIES

Paddling Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River is like solving a series of intricate puzzles.

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